Working in the landscaping industry for twenty years, Sara Twaddle CLP, TCLP has recently ventured out on her own as a management consultant. Her new venture is called Sara Twaddle, Independent Landscape Consultant.

Twaddle finally feels settled in Austin after living in such far-flung places as Chicago, Breckenridge, Colo. and St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

"Complacent after 11 years in my past position, I felt like I needed a new challenge for 2005," she said. "I took about three weeks off and I really thought about what I wanted to do with my life."

Twaddle is a firm believer that everyone should have a minimum of three careers in their lifetime. Currently, she plans to grow professionalism and give back to the those who use, and those who are in the green industry.

Twaddle has owned an interior plantscape business, a pond design/build firm, and during the last 15 years she has worked with two of the big players in Austin's commercial landscaping contracting realm.

"I have managed 150 people before and while I love people, as far as my business goes, I want it to just be me," she added. "Two of the things I thought of before I started my company, were that I needed to love what I do everyday, and I want to wake up enthusiastic about my work."

As an independent landscape consultant, Twaddle will look at how commercial and residential landscape companies are running. She said she will look at the operations systems, growth processes and marketing. In addition, she will see how the company presents itself and how it garners business in the Austin community.

"Predominately the people who use the green industry are developers, property managers, corporate facilities, and home owner associations," she said. "Using my experience in sales and operations I can offer them my understanding of site specifications and contracts."

Twaddle said she feels honored in so many ways when she is brought into a company and they have openly shared where they are and where they want to go. These are the people she feels she can really help, she said.

Landscape professional finds new endeavor, Austin Construction News, Volume 5 Number 3, March 2005